Method of and apparatus for graining wood surfaces



(No Modl.)

J. SHANNON. N 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GRAINING WOOD SURPAGES.

UN ITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHANNON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND PETER CASEY, OF SAMEPLAOE, AND WILLIAM W. GRIER,-OF I-IUL- TON, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GRAINI NG WOOD SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,698, dated March 29, 1892. Application filed October 31, 1890. Renewed February 1, 1892. Serial No. 419,885. (No model.)

To all whom it map/ concern.-

I dent of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Graining Wood Surfaces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for ornamenting soft wood in imitation of hard wood, so presenting to said soft wood the appearance of a hard-wood finish.

My invention comprises, generally stated, the method of ornamenting soft wood in imitation of hard wood, consisting in forming in the surface of the soft wood indentations or crevices in imitation of the grain of the hard wood, then applying a liquid filler to the wood surface, subsequently passing a metallic scraper over the wood surface to smooth the wood surface, force the filler into the indentations, and remove the surplus filler. 1

My invention further includes the form of apparatus for carryingoutthe above-described process, all of which will be fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and practice my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the apparatus for producing the indentations or crevices and applying the filling substance thereto. Fig. 2 is a like view of apparatus for pressing the filler into the indentations and removing any surplus. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 4 is a view of a wood surface finished in accordance with my invention.

Like letters indicate like parts in each.

The initial steps of the process are performed by the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, in

which a a are plain-faced rollers journaled in suitable bearings. The roller b,which will be termed the indentation roller, is journaled in suitable bearings and is adapted to be driven by any suitable means, the rollers a a, being also driven at the same surface speed. The indentation-rollerb is preferably constructed in accordance with an application for Letters Patent filed by me on the6th day of May, 1890, Serial No. 350,748, said roll being made up of a series of steel disks 0 with intervening washers c, the Whole then enveloped in Wax and the edges of the steel disks exposed at certain intervals by removing portions of the wax covering, according to the design to be formed by the roller, and such exposed portions of the disks subjected to an acid bath, so that such portions are eaten away, as at b,leaving the blades 19 extending out, so as to puncture or indent the wood passed under the same. When the blades or knives of the roller 1) come in contact with the soft wood, they will enter the same and impart to it certain indentations, crevices, or punctures of different lengths in imitation of the grain or growth of the hard wood to be imitated.

Situated beyond the indenting-roller b, and in line therewith, is the tank or receptacle 6, containing the filling substance e. This filling substance 6 consits of certain suitable ingredients-such, for example, as soapstone, corn starch, pumicestone, turpentine, oil, &c.--with the proper coloring-matter, the whole being mixed. to bring it to a consistency suitable for the purpose. The ingredients of the filler may of course be varied, as desired, according to the surface to be imitated or the wood to be treated. The tank 6 is supported in any convenient manner and is supplied with the outlet-spout f, controlled by a suitable valve f. A spreader g, preferably metallic, is secured to the tank 6 just beyond the spout f to aid in spreading the filler flowing from the spout f evenly over the wood surface and into the crevices and indentations h, formed for its reception in the wood to be ornamented.

In Figs. 2 and 3 are illustratedapparatus by which the final steps of the process may be carried out, in which g represents a plain.- faced feed-roller mounted in suitable bearings, over which roller the wood to be treated passes. Above the feed-roller a scraper 11 is supported in a suitable manner at the forward end of the apparatus, said scraper preferably extending across the wood at an angle,

as shown in Fig. 3, so that any surplus filler withdrawn by said scraper will be carried to one end of said scraper where a ,receptacle may be situated to receive the same. This scraper 1 acts to remove the major part of the filler, though in most cases part thereof will remain on the board. Back of the scraper z' are the compressing-rolls jj, which are preferably though not necessarily employed, their function being to force the filler entering the indentations down into the same and assist the scraper in imparting a smooth surface to the board. Beyond the roller j a series of scrapers k are arranged at an angle, as shown in Fig. 3, the first one overlapping the succeeding one, and so on until the lowest one is reached at the inner end of the angle formed by the series of scrapers. A tank Z is provided at that point for the reception of any surplus filler not absorbed by the wood being treated. A scraper m may also be arranged above the roller j with its working edge in contact with the face of said roller in order to keep the face of said roller smooth and clean.

In the carrying out of my improved process in connection with the above-described apparatus, the plank h, of soft wood, is first fed to the roller b, said roller having the cutting edges or blades formed thereon, as above described, in accordance with the design to be imparted to the plank h. Accordingly, when the plank h has passed between the supporting-roller a and the indentation-roller b, it has imparted toits upper face a series of indentations, punctures, or crevices h, prearranged to resemble the grain or growth of some hard wood. In entering the wood the blades necessarily push the body thereof to one side, and it is found that the wood will be raised or bulged slightly oneach side of the indentations i made, the action of indenting the wood therefore roughening its surface. The plank h, indented in this manner, approaches the tank or receptacle e, and when beneath the spout f the valve f is opened and the liquid filler permitted to escape, flowing onto the said plank and occupying the indentations 71, formed therein. The spreaderg then spreads the filler evenly over the surface of the plank and causes part thereof to enter the indentations, the filler thus covering the entire surface of the plank. When the filler has been spread over the surface of the plank, it is allowed to rest for a short period, in order that the moisture of the'filler mayhave opportu nity to enter all the pores of the Wood, the filler itself being of too great consistency to enter the natural minute pores thereof, so that it remains on the surface, a portion of its moisture entering the pores and acting to soften the wood surface. After this, the second stage of the process is carried out. This consists in feeding the plank under treatment to the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the first scraper z coming into contact with said plank and scraping off the major part of the filler, forcing it in front of the scraper and causing it to enter more thoroughly into the indentations formed in the wood surface and also removing any surplus of the filler and carrying it into the tank or other receptacle adapted to receive it. At the same time, as the surface of the plank is softened by the absorp-v scraper 2', while the series of scrapers kinsure the entire removal of any surplus filler and act to still further smooth the surface of the plank, carrying off the residue of the filler into the tank Z.

The resultant wood surfaces obtained have the indentations, punctures, or crevices formed in the surfaces thereof, according to the desired design properly filled with the coloring-matter, so as to impart to them the appearance of the hard wood imitated, and have also the surfaces thereof even and smooth and ready for the ordinary finishing thereof according to the uses to which they are applied, while the boards can be rapidly and cheaply finished.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to 'secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described method of orna- IOO mentin g soft wood, consisting in forming in the 4 surface of the soft wood indentations or crevices in imitation of the grainof hard wood, then applying a liquid filler to the wood surface, and subsequently scraping such surface to smooth the wood surface, force the filler into the indentations, and remove the surplus filler, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for ornamenting soft wood in imitation of hard wood, the combination, with a roll having indentations thereon for imparting corresponding indentations to the wood to be treated, ofa tank or other receptacle back of said roller for supplying-a liquid filling material to the wood and a spreader back of the tank for spreading the filler over the wood surface, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for ornamenti'ng soft wood in imitation of hard wood, the combination, with a roll having indentations thereon for imparting corresponding indentations to the wood to be treated, of a tank for supplying a liquid filler to the wood and a scraper adapted to pass over the wood surface and force the filler into the indentations and remove the surplus filler, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In apparatus for ornamenting soft wood in imitation of hard wood, the combination of a scraper adapted to pass ,over the wood scraper in front thereof substantially as and surface and compressing-rolls back of said for the purposes set forth.

1 o scraper and in line therewith, substantially as In testimonywhereof I, the said JOHN SHAN- and for the purposes set forth. NON, have hereunto set my hand.

5. In apparatus for ornamenting soft wood JOHN SHANNON. in imitation of hard wood, a series of scrapers Witnesses: arranged to pass over the wood surface, the B0131. D. TOTTEN,

edge of one scraper extending back of the J. N. COOKE. 

